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REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 





The studies of the possibilities of water storage in Adirondack region indicate that 

 reservoirs may be made on lakes and in river valleys of upper Hudson catchment area 

 with a total storage of over 44,000,000,000 cubic feet. Probably when the investi- 

 gation is fully complete this figure will be considerably increased, but just how much 

 cannot now be stated for lack of the definite data to be drawn from topographical 

 surveys. The investigations made in 1895—6 showed that, taking into account the 

 distribution and quantity of rainfall, reservoirs could be safely constructed in upper 

 Hudson catchment area storing 13.5 ins. over the entire area. The argument on which 

 this conclusion is based may be found in the author's report on upper Hudson surveys 

 made to the State Engineer and Surveyor under date of December 31, 1895, and 

 published as an appendix to the annual report of the State Engineer and Surveyor for 

 the year ending September 30, 1895. The investigations made also showed that, 

 generally speaking, reservoirs could be constructed in the Adirondack region much 

 cheaper than in other parts of the State of New York. The original estimated cost of 

 a system of small reservoirs for Schroon valley is $1,172,500, which gives, for a total 

 storage of 15,330,000,000 cubic feet, a cost per million cubic feet stored of $76.48. 

 Or a single reservoir may be constructed, storing on Schroon and Brant Lakes a total 

 of 15,925,000,000 cubic feet, at an approximate cost of $840,000, or at $52.12 per 

 million cubic feet stored. At Piseco Lake it was estimated that a storage of 

 1,725,000,000 cubic feet could be made for $70,000, or for $40 per million cubic feet 

 stored. At Indian Lake it was estimated that a storage of 4,468,000,000 cubic feet 

 could be made for $120,000, or at the rate of $26.86 per million cubic feet stored. 

 As will be shown farther on, the actual construction just completed at Indian Lake 

 has abundantly justified the original estimate, although it is believed from additional 

 information gained by the surveys of 1896 that some of the other reservoirs were 

 underestimated and that moderate corrections in the figures should be made. Even 

 when such corrections are made, it still remains true that water storage in Adirondack 

 region can be made much cheaper than in any other portion of the State of 

 New York. 



